investigating the dragon paintings by the artist Benedetto Casselli, which they now knew contained clues to the location of a mysterious hidden weapon. The shadowy secret society known as the Fraternitas Draconum were trying to find the weapon and use it to kick start a war in Europe – and they must do all they could to prevent them.
Lil knew that Sophie was just as intent on stopping the Fraternitas as she was. It had been Sophie who had encouraged them to form the Loyal Order of Lions, to oppose the Fraternitas and their schemes. The Order had no official leader, but if they had, it would certainly have been Sophie. Lil smiled to herself, thinking that whilst a small, politely spoken seventeen-year-old girl might not be most people’s idea of a strong leader, Sophie would have surprised them. She was unshakeable in her determination to stop the Fraternitas.
Of course, that wasn’t so surprising when you knew Sophie’s history. Not only had the Fraternitas put her in mortal danger more than once, they had also been responsible for the deaths of Sophie’s parents. It was because of them that she had been left all alone in the world.
Lil couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to be so alone. She’d never experienced a loss like Sophie’s. She’d spent her whole life surrounded by people: Mother and Father, of course, even if they never did know quite what to make of her; her bossy older brother Jack, who she loved and who infuriated her in equal measure; and dozens of friends. She’d always found it easy to make friends wherever she went – at school, in the theatre, and now even with a prince and princess. But she’d never had a friend who understood her like Sophie did.
It had been three months since she’d waved her off on the airfield in Paris. Three months since she’d been back in London, without her. Three months of missing her – a horrid feeling, like a stomach ache. It seemed so wrong that she wasn’t here: pacing up and down the office they shared, thinking out an assignment; leafing through the newspapers she read every day; or chatting over tea and cakes at Lyons Corner House, where they talked about everything from their latest cases, to the merits of a new hat.
But Lil knew Sophie was where she needed to be – following the trail of a stolen notebook, which contained vital information about the dragon paintings and the secret weapon. She’d be back in London soon enough, and they’d be together again. Until then, Lil would do everything she could to help with the investigation.
Inside the building, she told the concierge she was here to see ‘Mr Clarke’, and then ran up the stairs, through a door marked with a small card reading: CLARKE & SONS SHIPPING AGENTS. A few minutes later, she was in the Chief’s office, laying the painting before him.
‘Well! Miss Rose, you have outdone yourself!’ exclaimed C, with a delighted chuckle. ‘Sit down and make yourself comfortable while I admire it. My word – The Red Dragon at last. So full of malevolence – really, quite horrifying!’
Lil took the chair opposite his desk, glancing around her as she always did when she was in C’s office. There were so many intriguing things to look at – the enormous gramophone in the corner, currently booming out a Glinka opera, the big map studded with pins and coloured flags, and the elaborate ink stand, filled with the bright green ink that the Chief always used.
‘Carruthers!’ C called out.
Almost at once, the office door banged open and C’s secretary came in. Captain Carruthers was a tall thin young man, with horn-rimmed spectacles and a rather sour expression.
‘Ah, Carruthers – you’ll like this!’ the Chief went on genially. ‘Look what clever Miss Rose has delivered to us! Isn’t she splendid? Now then – if you would take it, see it’s wrapped properly, and put it into the safe? Very good – careful with it now, there’s a good fellow!’
Carruthers threw Lil a glance that suggested he thought her anything but splendid, nodded to the Chief, picked up the painting and stalked back out of the room. As usual, C did not seem to notice his assistant’s bad temper: he was busy rummaging amongst one of the tottering piles of paper on his desk. After a moment, he found the document he was looking for, and set it before him with a flourish.
C placed a large green-ink tick beside the words ‘The Red Dragon’ and scribbled beside it ‘found in the possession of Sir E. Grenville’.
‘So Sir Edwin must be a member of the Fraternitas Draconum,’ said Lil.
‘It would seem so,’ said the Chief. ‘What about the other fellow – the man you saw him with. Was he anyone you recognised?’
Lil shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not.’ There hadn’t been much to distinguish him – just a smart, middle-aged man with grey hair. ‘But I did wonder if Sir Edwin was going to show him the painting. That might have been how he discovered it was missing so soon. Which would suggest that the other man is Fraternitas too, wouldn’t it?’
‘Very likely,’ said the Chief, scribbling this down. ‘This is most pleasing, Miss Rose. You’ve done an admirable job for us. Now, if you will see Captain Carruthers on your way out, I’d appreciate it if you could give him a description of the second man. Also the location of Grenville’s safe, and the combination of course. You never know when that might come in handy! Then off you go and enjoy a well earned rest.’
A rest? ‘Don’t you need me to do anything else?’ Lil asked, her eyes flicking to the other paintings on the Chief’s list, marked ‘under investigation’ or even more tantalisingly, ‘unknown’.
But the Chief just smiled blandly and said: ‘Nothing for the moment, Miss Rose. You’ll hear from us again as soon as we have a new assignment for you.’
Lil got to her feet, but before she left she had to ask the same question she always asked whenever she came to the Bureau – even though she knew she wasn’t really supposed to. ‘Have you heard anything from Sophie lately? Is she all right?’
The Chief gave her a kindly smile. ‘Miss Taylor? Of course, my dear. Nothing to worry about on that score. Now then – run along. Good day!’
Lil left the Chief humming along to his music. She suspected he thought it was sentimental and a little silly, the way she asked about Sophie; and yet she always felt reassured to hear that all was well. She knew she shouldn’t expect to get letters or messages from Sophie while she was travelling undercover – after all, she herself hadn’t been allowed to send any when she’d been in Arnovia – but it was good to know she was all right and that her assignment was going according to plan.
Outside the Chief’s office door, she found not Carruthers, but instead Captain Harry Forsyth – tall, bronzed and handsome. Forsyth was one of the top agents of the Secret Service Bureau, and it wasn’t long since he and Lil had been on assignment together in Paris and Arnovia. Now he gave her a charming smile: ‘Oh hello, old girl! Didn’t realise it was you in there with the Chief. Ripping to see you, as always!’
‘Hello, Forsyth,’ said Lil cheerfully. ‘Isn’t Carruthers back yet?’ For once, the secretary’s desk was empty.
‘Not in the least idea, I’m afraid. I s’pose he must have popped out on some errand or other. Well, I’d simply love to chat, but I mustn’t keep the old man waiting!’ He gave her a quick wink, then swaggered forward into C’s office, without knocking. Inside, Lil heard the Chief say warmly: ‘Ah, Forsyth! In you come – I’ve a great deal to acquaint you with!’
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